The Rossoneri were out for revenge after a 1-0 home defeat earlier this season. MassimoAmbrosini, UrbyEmanuelson, Nigel De Jong and Didac Vila were injured, while Atalanta missed DanieleCapelli, Stefano Lucchini, GiampaoloBellini, Guido Marilungo and the suspended LugiGiorgi.

Christian Abbiati flapped at a dangerous Giacomo Bonaventura cross heading to German Denis, then pushed another assist off the foot of FacundoParra from six yards. Stephan El Shaarawy’s counter-attack was cut short by DavideBrivio and Atalanta lost Ferri to injury.

El Shaarawy broke his four-match goal drought by gathering an MbayeNiang through ball and spinning round substitute CristianRaimondi to place the angled drive across the goalkeeper.

FacundoParra failed to make the most of a defensive error by blasting into the stands, then Denis completely mis-kicked a Bonaventura ball across the six-yard box.

Abbiati was called into action as Parra pulled back for Denis, while a Pazzini overhead kick was off target.

It was an increasingly tense match with arguments breaking out all over the field. Brivio paid the price, as he received a second yellow card for barging into the back of Pazzini.

Michele Canini charged down a Niang effort, as 10-man Atalanta kept up the pressure without making much of a dent.

Milan thought they had finished off the game when Mathieu Flamini went clear, but Andrea Consigli performed a crucial save at the near post.

Atalanta Coach Stefano Colantuono was also sent off for dissent, while Carlos Carmona was booked for an obvious dive. It was an incredibly tense and ill-tempered match with scuffles and arguments breaking out every few minutes.